As I’ve not had chance to take a photo of a royal wedding street party in Hoylake today, I’ve tried to keep vaguely on the topic of royalty for this weeks Friday photo.
The above photo shows a street procession or carnival outside the Town Hall in Market Street. There looks to be a crown over the entrance to the building so I’m guessing that’s a clue to some royal celebration. But other than that I haven’t got a clue what this photo is all about. Any ideas?
PS: There are photos of the party held in Grove Park over in facebook.
I believe the event was the Coronation of HRH QE2. Many of us children (then) were on those floats.
I would think the parade was in colder weather, possibly November 1947, the people seem to be wearing winter type coats, or yo had a very cold June 1953.
You could be right but trees seem to be in full bloom which suggests mid year and the Coronation was in June, and I remember clearly us all dressing up in fancy dress. I can see one of the Clark brothers leading a donkey and he looks about the right age for 1952.
But, memory dims so I could be way off track.
Regards
I think your earlier correspendents are probably correct in that the parade was to celebrate the Queen’s coronation in 1953. During the 1950’s my family were using horse and carts for various reasons mainly cockling over the shore.
I seem to recognise several family members in the photograph. The chap in the raincoat, front left leading the horse and cart with the children is my great uncle,Edward Hughes. The lady with the scarf, front centre is my great aunt and Edward’s sister, Ann Halewood, who is closely followed behind by another great uncle, Bill Wilbraham of Groveland Avenue. Mr Watts was correct in identifying Bill Clark leading probably one of his donkeys from the shore.
Happy days indeed!
Julie Ellsmoor writes:
The photo is Hoylake celebrating the Queens coronation.
My mother Stella Edge, or Crawford as she was then, is leading one of the ponies. Also in the picture is my aunt Doris Clark and her husband Bill who owned most of the ponies in the parade. Thier daughter Gill was riding in one of the carts but is obscured from view.
I treasure my copy of this photo..
Julie Edge, maybe one and the same from Walker Street? I have very many fond memories of evenings in your house, due to the fact that you had such great parents, who allowed us to be there.Steve Passmore, Billy Irvine, Russell from the newsagents and many others. What are you up to now?
The party held in Grove Park on Friday was amazing – hundreds of people turned up and enjoyed the fun in the sun. A big thanks to Friends of Grove Park for organising the event, it was great to see how much Grove Park has to offer!
This is indeed to commemorate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. I was on the last float with our Carnival Queen, Janet Pownall, her sister Marge was on the pony Bill Clarke is leading, (who was Pinto) , I became the one who walked miles on the beach for about 7 summers as a child leading Pinto and giving children rides on her back, I loved it. A couple of my friends led other ponies of Bills, we had a great time, happy days indeed. John Gossage is on the pony behind, Roy Grace is on Bill’s right dressed as Robin Hood, Jackie Bird is on the other pony. On the first cart is Joan Lawrence. Kay Rainford, whose dad was landlord of the Plasterers Arms in Grove Place. The lad on the back of the first cart is Robbie Lydiate. Also on the first cart was Carolyn Dale-Jones, who eventually married John Gossage. On the Queen’s float at the back is Renwick Black, who had the Queen’s Crown on a cushion. The floats were decorated at Smiths Farm over the lines and we went to the bandstand and the Queen was crowned, I was one of her attendants with a few of my friends like, Carol Taylor, Helen Slack, Barbara Booth, Denise Fleet, Hilary Black, Ann Grace etc! sorry for those I have not mentioned. Can’t remember them all now. Hoylake put more than one of these carnivals on yearly, can’t remember how long for. As I remember, my mum, Ruth Cooper and Gladys Taylor seemed to be the ones, with others, who put these spectacles on and made crepe paper flowers and decorations to decorate the horses and carts. They were beautifully decorated and a lovely site to see. I never wanted to be an attendant I always wanted to ride one of the ponies, but mum insisted I was on a cart in a pretty dress. Life was so easy and simple then and we were so happy as children in Hoylake.
Lynda, what a fantastic writeup the names you mention conjur up warm memories of a long gone era, populated as you comment by “happy children” whoe were all great friends. I was on one of those cart dressed as a cowboy, Les Blackerll was with me dressed as a Chinamam.
Incidentally are you Peters’ sister?
Hi Bernie, yes that is me, unfortunately we lost Peter in 2006. He was only 60yrs. How the devil are you, nice to hear from you. You lucky thing living in such a beautiful place. I only moved as far away as Heswall, then had my family and moved back to Hoylake. I remember going to school lane school with your Lynne, she only had to cross the lane and she was in school and she said she was always late, always made me laugh that. We used to play together when kids. They were good days and we were very happy kids in Hoylake then. Life seemed so simple and easy, leave your doors open when you went out, cause you had nothing worth pinching etc. I have seen your Dave about occasionally but I don’t think he knows me. You mention Les Blackwell, he now has a driving school in Hoylake. I remember his dad, Sgt Blackwell pulling our Peter out a tree in the Grove and clipping him round the ear for climbing. Sgt Blackwell told my dad and Peter got told off again. Hope you are well Bernie, nice to talk to you. Anymore memories, let me know.
I’m so sorry and saddened to hear about Peter, he was a nice guy and one of
my best friends during school days and far too young to have passed on. I
recall we played our never ending game of football in the grove throughout
those wonderful summers, wet or dry. I remember your mum very well she was
very kind to us youngsters and put up with a lot given that we all played
just across the road. I remember going to a party at your house when I was
quite young and that we all had such a great time nobody wanted to leave,
I think you were there and that was probably the last time I spoke to you.
I was once very envious of Peter, as when we were in Mrs. Hughes class at
Market Street School, something had happened, not sure what, and she took
pity on Peter for something (maybe a failed football trial with Tranmere
Rovers or Liverpool Youth) and as a runners up prize she arranged for him to
go with her to meet Stanley Matthews, our schooldays football hero. it
really P’d me off at the time as I wanted to go so much. I recall an old
black and white photograph of Peter and Stan that floated around school for
a long time after that. I also recall that you had an elder brother, cant
remember him too well, but I do remember that he was the image of Peter.
Dave and Kay came over to see us a few years back, it was nice to see them
and Lynn is still living out in Holyhead, we were in the UK a few years ago
and went out to see her.
Regarding where we live, it is a nice place, on the shores of Lake Huron,
sunsets are similar to those from Hoylake prom, without the Island, the
worst part however are the winters, we have never really got used to them,
one thing is certain though, there is no discussion about maybe getting
snow, its absolutely guaranteed from November to mid April with the coldest
temps being in January, February and March, regularly -20, never above zero
and can get as low as -50 so, while the summers are really beautiful with
sun guaranteed the winters are a purgatory, that’s why we head south to the
sun.
Les Blackwell was another of our great friends and his mum, Blanche, was a
lovely lady, Les had two brothers Geoff and Tony, Geoff was a good friend of
our David. His Dad, Jack, I think it was, was a policeman through and
through, If you come across Les please pass on my best regards and maybe ask
him to drop me a line, he will be 65 years old now as would Peter, Les
Ryding, Roger Bull, Dave Smith and me; sadly there’s only Les R Les B and
myself still standing from the old gang.
One by one we are becoming shades of an era long gone.
Hi Bernie, when Peter was about 13 he did a project at shcool and his was all about Stanley Matthews, the book was a couple of inches thick with all the pages he had written and photos he had stuck in. Stan was Peter’s hero, if you remember he always played in the grove in Tangerine shirt and white shorts, a lot of lads made ribbed him because Blackpool was not in the 1st division at the time. Anyhow, Mrs. Hughes sent this project to Stanley Matthews without telling Peter. She got a letter back from Stanley Matthews, who said “This boy knows more about me than I know myself”, he was absolutely delighted with it, and astonished with it’s content and the work in it. He asked to meet Peter and sent a taxi for him and Mrs. Hughes to take them to Bloomfield Road, Blackpool and have tea with Stan. Of course Peter was over the moon. I think Stanley asked if he could keep the book and Peter told him he could, as he knew it all off by heart anyway! The lads didn’t rib him again! I don’t know what happened to that photo of them. I assume Peter kept it. Don’t think I remember that party!! You are right, even if I do say it myself, my mum was a lovely person and a smashing mum, she loved all the kids and encouraged Peter so much with his football, even making the tea down at Hoylake football pitch for years when Peter played down there. My mum died aged 93, Jan 2006, Peter died the same year in July, I am just grateful mum did not see him go. It was a terribly sad year, I miss them both so badly, could still break my heart over Peter now and very often do, he was ill for about 18 months and we were sure he was going to make it, but it was not to be and he suffered terribly, which is not right in this day and age. I still have my elder brother Michael, he lives in Shropshire, he will be 74 this month. His son has just finished 22yrs in the RAF and is now at RAF Valley, Anglesey, crewmates with William HRH and was invited to the wedding . My claim to fame! Nice to talk to you Bernie hope you are keeping well , and if I see Les Blackwell I will remember you to him.
Thanks for clearing up the Stan Mathews mystery Lynda, I do recal some of the details now. Again I’m so saddened to hear of Peter’s death particularly the way in which he died and yes I do remember Michael, he was a good bit older than us so didn’t have much to do with us younger ones but it’s great that your nephew is flying heleicopters with William. I’m happy for you that your mum lived to such a ripe old age, as I said previously, she was, in my opinion, a gentle and kindly lady always to be remembered by her trademark shopping bag.
My mum passed away in 1996 aged 82 and my dad in 1989 aged 78.
Regards
Bernie W
Carolyn Dale Jones, Barbara Booth, Les Blackwell and so many more names, that take me back to my childhood.
Wonderful times.
Was Gladys Taylor (mentioned in your comment) wife of Sam & mother of Doreen & Derek?
Please forgive me if I have got any of the above wrong, it was a long time ago, but left lovely memories.
Although not a Hoylake resident I spent many hours of my life in Hoylake at Hoyle Road, mostly hiding in the bandstand having a quick smoke, we didn’t know the dangers then. Dick Rigby was the headmaster back in the 50’s, There were two teachers named Morgan, Morgan senior and Morgan the geography and P.T teacher. The latter Morgan used to enjoy punching boys on the shoulder, I somehow don’t think it would be allowed now. Other teachers I remember, Miss Weaving, Miss Leaming, Mr. Mounsey, Mr. Tyson, Miss Shepherd Mr. Boyd and a really super teacher who took metalwork in one of the prefabricated buildings. It was through the latter that I served an apprenticeship and eventually went to sea as a marine engineer. Many hours of study and various qualifications brought their rewards so I must have learned something at Hoyle Road. One of my contempories was Geoff Cross. Does anybody know of his whereabouts now?
Howard Dean Hoyle Road 1950 to 1955.
Thanks for the memories! I well remember Mr. Morgan Sr!! I was terrified of him, but now I don’t remember why!! But I also remember how he was briliant at reading stories to us. Mr. Sefton taught me touch typing which I am still doing!!! I heard about Mr. Morgans glass eye, but never experienced him taking it out, thank goodness! Didn’t Mr. Boyd and Miss Shepherd marry?
Howard Dean replies:
I don’t think it was Mr Boyd who married Miss Shepherd, Mr. Boyd was the craft teacher in the main building. Didn’t Miss Shepherd marry the Metalwork Teacher who had his class in the prefabs. I don’t recall his name but perhaps somebody could enlighten me. It was as a result of his teaching and the way he treated his pupils that I studied engineering and became a merchant navy engineer. I left the sea and joined Shell gaining a degree in business studies on a Shell sponsored course at Bromsgrove College.
What years where you at the Parade Irene and who was your form teacher?
Was it John Mould who took metalwork in the prefabs? It was certainly in the half unit closest to the corner of Deneshey and the ‘prom.
Old Mr Morgan had a glass eye he would take out an polish on his shirt. I don’t think the two Morgans were related, but there was Miss Morgan who did some PE for a while, possibly a student, and she wore short shorts.
Howard Dean replies:
Hi Ian,
I regret I do not remember a Miss Morgan or her short shorts which is somewhat surprising as like all 15 year old boys (or most of them) short shorts left an indelible imprint on my memory. No the two Morgans were not related, in fact the older one actually taught my mother somewhere in the Rugby, Nuneaton area so he moved around a bit. I believe his classroom was the canteen prior to one being built in Deneshey.
I don’t think it was Mr. Mold who I was trying to recall although the name does ring a bell. It was a name something like Atkinson, he married Miss Shepherd if I remember correctly,
Since my note I have recalled Mr. Jack Roberts who took maths, he had a Jaguar and we could get him talking about it for a double lesson if we were careful not to remind him of the real reason we were in his classroom. As I now have a Jaguar do you think it was autosuggestion on his part. Bernard Sephton also jumps to mind, since his instruction on the recorder I progressed to a flute and I play one to this day. In fact I have just bought a new one as my old one was well past 30 years old.
Since those days I have visited the area infrequently, the last time being about a year ago and I am staggered as to how it has shrunk. Another pupil name to remember is Bruce Hazlehurst, quite a character. I progressed through 1A, 2B, T1 and T2 before leaving mid term. I presume you are an ex pupil, can you recall which classes you were in and any of your classmates?
Best Wishes,
Thanks Howard, I think we are probably drifitng a bit off thread discussing the Parade, but I just checked the Facebook group and Pat (prime mover of the reuinons) says Jim Moulding preceeded John Mould.
Mr Mould by co-incidence played the Oboe, and gave us a demo explaining it was difficult to play quietly and used so little air you had to breathe out as well as in. Jack Roberts was a Welshman, tall thin and wore glasses. Bernard Sephton taught music and typing, and he had a couple of Clarinettes which were A not B-flat ones, I learned on them and had to convert to B-flat when I got my own second hand instrument.
If you are on Facebook, have a look for our group, you have to request membership.
Martyn Mcshane hi!
yes it is me and thank you for the lovely comments about my mum and dad. They were very ‘with it’ and loved having the gang in the house. they are both still living in the same house and as mad as ever.
I live in Meols and am a volunteer fundraiser.
Did you know that Steve Passmore died? very sad. Also John (scotty) Scott.
Hope all is good in your world.